Date:         Mon, 19 Jul 1999 20:33:23 +0200
Reply-To:     Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject:      Re: Diff locks on 2WD Vanagons
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Please don't try this if your battery is not good, or in the winter (cold that
is) or both. The starter pulls a huge amount of power, I believe it pulls 1kw,
or 1000 watts. That is as much as 20 low beams! Without the alternator supplying
power, your battery should be in very good condition to be able to start the van
after 3 blocks. On the other hand, I agree it is a good solution to move the van
in a pressing situation, say you are stranded on a rail way crossing, and that
train do not look willing to stop for a measly old VW....

PerL
87 Syncro 112i

Max/Joyce Wellhouse wrote:

> According to Click and Clack, the Tappet Bros. on NPR Radio, one of their
> car talk puzzlers claims all you have to do to get up a steep hill is pull
> the coil wire and roll the starter in 1st gear(sorry automatic owners) for
> vw buses.  My old 71 bus climbed a real steep 3 block long hill in
> Chattanoogga TN years ago inorder to be able to coast down the last four
> blocks to a 24 hr. gas station.  Didn't have to pull the coil wire with an
> empty tank.  BTW, the starter lasted another 2 years after that and the
> battery never did fail. My 79 van wasn't as good at this  in part due to
> higher gear ratio.  Haven't tried it on Vanagon yet.
>
> Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Monday, July 19, 1999 1:40 PM
> Subject: Re: Diff locks on 2WD Vanagons
>
> >Poor man's "limited slip" differential:  Partial application of the
> >parking brake when one wheel slips!  Keep the lock button depressed and
> >pull until wheel stops spinning.  Modulate the amount of brake applied
> >and with a little practice you can make it up any hill a limited slip or
> >locking 2WD can.  If it is really steep or icy, use the same technique
> >backing up the hill--effectively front wheel drive.
> >
> >Works great, costs nothing.
> >
> >> On Mon, 19 Jul 1999, C&S Gibbs. Alaska. USA. wrote:
> >>
> >> > Hi All,
> >> >
> >> > Been thinking about the possibility of fitting a diff lock to my *2WD
> 88
> >> > Westie*.  Why, well for the odd occasion that I cannot get up the local
> >> > hills in the wintertime (6 months of the year).
> >
> >--
> >Stuart MacMillan
> >Manager, Case Program
> >800-909-8244 ext 208
> >
> >Getting your share of the Net yet?
> >http://www.cobaltgroup.com
> >http://www.casedealer.com/demo
> >http://www.caseihdealer.com/demo